Hundreds of Cape Verdeans demonstrated this Friday in the streets of Praia against the government of the country and the capital, calling for changes in sectors such as security, justice, transport, health, employment or the management of public affairs.
Called “Stadu di Nação” (State of the Nation), “Sima Nu sta Nu ka podi fika” (We cannot go on as we are), the demonstration was called by the Network of Community Associations and Social Movements of Praia (RACMS), to who represents “a cry of protest” against the state of affairs.
Concentrating on Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, the historic center of Praia, the demonstrators gathered along the streets of the country’s capital, chanting words and slogans, such as “the people united will never be defeated”, “Down the Government”, “first the people, then the parties”.
More health, more jobs, more transportation, more education, more security, more transparency, fair wages or less abuse were some of the many requests from the protesters, including children, youth, adults, from all walks of life.
The protesters were walking down the main avenue of the city of Praia and were diverted by the police before arriving in front of the Palacio Governo – the law says they must stay at least 100 meters from public institutions —, which caused tempers to rise, with unflattering expressions for the Executive.
The protest was supposed to end in front of the National Assembly, in Achada de Santo António, but the police cordon of about 150 agents – according to Lusa’s accounts, since the police did not provide official data – left the protesters in the vicinity of the the so-called “Casa do Pueblo y Democracia”, once again infuriating the protesters.
Speaking to journalists, the spokesman for the Network of Community Associations and Social Movements of Praia (RACMS), Bernandino Gonçalves, said that the state of the nation is not what Cape Verdeans currently deserve.
The insecurity, the justice that we have is not the best, the unemployment, the excessive tantrums and the partisan quarrels that the citizens feel that block their daily life”, mentioned the community leader, showing that he was dissatisfied with the little adherence of the people, in a city with nearly 200,000 people, but said the demonstration is not an isolated initiative.
“We are going to add this demonstration to other interventions, so that our society is more friendly to democracy and freedom of expression,” said Bernardino Gonçalves, showing that he is aware that a demonstration will not substantially change things, but it will raise awareness about the rulers of the country.
“And government officials also get to know that they don’t have a blank check from one election to the next. People can ask for accounts at any time”, warned the spokesman for the social movement, acknowledging that Cape Verdean society is still “very partisan” and that there is still a path to understand democracy.
Our weak democratic culture can justify the fact that fewer people show up and also that the political parties try to use us as a weapon, in the situation or in the opposition,” said the same official, realizing some pressure, but he guaranteed that during the weekend the promoters will take stock of the demonstration to decide the next steps.
The afternoon demonstration in Praia was followed by others in recent days, especially complaints about the lack of transportation and towards the islands of São Nicolau and Brava.
Created in 2020, during the state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the RACMS collaborated with the Municipality of Praia and with the Government as an intermediary, for example, in the distribution of basic food baskets.
Source: Observadora
